Rotary washer

ABSTRACT

A rotating washer drum is formed with a spiral conveyor on its inner wall for moving small metal parts through the drum while water is sprayed onto the parts. The dirty water drains from the drum through axially extending slots. Eccentrically weighted rods positioned in the slots are oscillated by gravity as the drum rotates, to thereby prevent the slots from becoming clogged with material cleaned from the parts.

United States Patent 1191 Morton 51 Apr. 17, 1973- ROTARY WASHER1,294,459 2/1919 Heineke ..15/90 ux 1 2,010,195 8/1935 Meehan..... [75]Inventor. Robert L. Morton, Santa Ana, Calif. 2,536,373 1/1951 Kelly JL73 Assignee; P ifi S i tifi Company, 3,297,043 1/1967 Adams ..l34/l04 Xmerce, Calif. Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge [22] Flled: 1971Attorney-Fow1er, Knobbe & Martens [21] Appl. No.1 116,978

[57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl. ..134/104, 15/90 134/65 rotating washer drum iswith a Spiral 134/l55 veyor on its inner wall for moving small metalparts 51 1m.c1. ..B08b 3/02, B08b 3/06,B08b'17/0O hmugh the drum whileWater is Sprayed [58] Field of Search 134/65 104 132 parts, The dirtywater drains from the drum through 4/155 1 1 6 axially extending slots.Eccentrically weighted rods positioned in the slots are oscillated bygravity as the drum rotates, to thereby prevent the slots from [56]References cued becoming clogged with material cleaned from the UNITEDSTATES PATENTS P 13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1,251,073 12/1917 Maloney..l34/65X PATENTED APR 1 71973 sum 2 or a Q m mu NVENTOR. E0551? 7 L.M01? TON m &

BY ram [/5 01/0555, M41? TEA/5 A T Tom/5m PATENTEBAPR I 71973 SHEET 3 OF3 INVENTOR. 19054.5?7' L. MO/FTO/V ROTARY WASHER This invention pertainsto industrial washing apparatus designed primarily for washing smallmanufac tured articles such as screws, bolts, nuts, rivets and the like.The invention more particularly pertains to an improved arrangement forinsuring that the washing liquid can drain from the drum containing thearticles.

It is often necessary to wash small manufactured metal parts to removedirt, grease, metal chips, .etc. One type of washer commonly usedemploys a cylindrical drum for containing the parts, with a spiralconveyor being formed on the inner wall of the drum to move the partsfrom one end of the drum to the other while cleaning liquid is sprayedonto the parts. Use of the conveyor permits continuous operation, andthe progressive movement and tumbling facilitates the cleaningoperation. Axially extending lift bars are commonly also included tocause further tumbling action on the part as they move through the drum.

Typically, washer drums of this type are perforated to provide necessarydrainage of the dirty cleaning liquid. This function, however, has oftenbeen a source of trouble due to clogging of the drain holes. The holesmust, of course, be sufficiently small to prevent the parts being washedfrom falling out of the drum or becoming lodged in the holes. On theother hand, if the holes are made too small, they tend to clog quicklybecause of the dirt and debris being washed from the parts. When thisoccurs, it is necessary to interrupt the operation to unclog the drainholes. Hence, it is desirable that a washer be provided which willeliminate this problem. I V

This invention provides an improved drainage arrangement which includesprovision for continuous agitation to prevent clogging of the drainholes. The drain holes are made in the form of axially extending slotsin the wall of the drum and a rod is positioned in each slot, with thediameter of the rod being slightly smaller than the width of the slot.Or, in otherwords, the spacing between the rod and the slot edges issufficient to provide the necessary drainage, but smaller than thesmallest of the parts to be cleaned in the washer. A weight such as. intheform of a metal plate is eccentrically attached to each rod, theplate extending outwardly from the exterior of the drum. Thus, as thewasher is rotted, the plate moves by gravity causing the rod to becontinuously oscillated. This continuous movement or agitation tends toprevent the accumulation of dirt and other sediment in the spacesbetween the slot edges and the rod.

It is often desirable to have lift bars extending radially inwardly fromthe cylindrical wall of the drum to help in tumbling the parts. Thesebars can be conveniently installed in the drum in conjunction with thedrain slots by simply making the slots larger than necessary andpartially filling them with the bars. Suitable notches for receiving thebars are formed in the outer periphery of the spiral conveyor, at thepoints where the conveyor intersects the slots.

For a further understanding of the invention, refer to .the followingdetailed description and drawings of a preferred embodiment wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the washer apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus; FIG. 3 is alongitudinal cross-section of the washer drum illustrating the agitatormeans for cleaning the drain holes;

FIG. 4 is a further cross-sectional view of the drum on line 44 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drum on line 5--5 ofFIG. 3 illustrating a portion of the section of the drum in which nodrainage occurs; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drum on line 6-6 ofFIG. 3 illustrating the construction in a section where drainage doesoccur.

Refer first to FIGS. 1 and 2 for an overall view of the washingapparatus. Since many of the details of the system are not necessary foran understanding of this invention, portions of the apparatus are shownsomewhat schematically. The apparatus includes an outer housing 10defining a cylindrical drum or container 12 for receiving the parts tobe washed. The drum 12 is mounted for rotation on a plurality of rollers14 which are mounted on suitable support structure 16. The drum isrotated by suitable means such as a drive chain 18 cooperating with gearteeth on the drum and a drive motor 20.

Cleaning liquid is stored in a reservoir, generally indicated at 22, andheated by a suitable burner (not shown), the combustion exhaust beingshown at 24. The liquid is pumped from the reservoir by a pump 26 drivenby a motor 28 through piping 30 extending from the reservoir into theinterior of the washer drum 12 through both ends. Referring to FIG. 3, ajoint 32 in the piping joins two ends 30a and 30b of the piping and isclosed so that there is no communication at this point between the twoends of the conduit. The left end 30a of the conduit is shown in FIG. 3as having an elongated slot 34 for spraying a large volume of water intoa flood section 12a of the drum. The right conduit 30b is provided witha plurality 'of nozzles 36 for spraying liquid into a center, washsection 12b of the drum 12.

Referring further to FIG. 3, it may be seen that a spiral conveyor 40 isattached to the interior wall of the drum 12 and extends from an inletend of the drum 42 to an outlet end 44. A frusto-conically shaped inletmember 46 contains the water 66 and feeds the parts to be washed intothe conveyor 40. At the downstream end adjacent the outlet 44, the drum12 is provided with an additional cylindrical section 47 leading to anoutwardly flared outlet member 48 through which the clean parts can beremoved from the washer.

In fabricating the washer drum 12, a plurality of equally spaced,axially extending drain slots 50, best seen in FIG. 6, are formed in thecylindrical wall of the drum 12 together with inwardly extendingrectangular notches 52 formed in the outer periphery of the conveyor 40at the points where the conveyor intersects the slots 50. A lift bar 56is positioned in each slot 50 adjacent one edge 51a of the slot. andextends radially inwardly into the notches 52 aligned with the slotadjacent the edges 53, the bars partially filling the slot and thenotches. In the unfilledslotor space 50a of each slot 50 is positionedan axially extending rod 58. The diameter of the rod is slightly lessthan the width of the slot 50a, that is, the space between the lift bar56 and the other edge 51b of the slot 50, Thus, the rod 58 together withthe other edge 51b of each slot 50 and with each lift bar 56, definedrain holes or slots 50c and 50d as may be seen in FIG. 6.

To further position the bars 56, there is provided a plurality of barsegments 62 which. are welded or otherwise suitably attached to the bars56. The segments 62 are located radially inwardly from the rods 58, andthe bar segments 62 are axially spaced to be located at the points wherethe spiral conveyor 40 intersects the slot 50, as seen in FIG. 3. Theresult of this is that the segments are positioned in the notches 52,filling the remaining space in the notches so that the bars 56 aresecurely positioned in a circumferential direction.

In the flood section 12a of the cylindrical drum 12, the bar segment 62aextends across three convolutions of the spiral conveyor 40 rather thanjust through the notches in the conveyor. As a result, the drain holesor slots 50c and 50d are completely blocked in this area as may be seenfrom FIGS. 3 and 5.

ln the flood section 12a a plurality of axially extending plates 68 arewelded to the rods 58, the plates extending radially outwardly from theslots 50 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. These plates 60 serve aseccentrically mounted weights which move by gravity as the drum 12 isrotated. This movement causes oscillation of the rods 58 and producesagitation in the drain holes which serves to loosen and tends to preventthe clogging of the drain holes. 1

The agitator rods 58 as well as the bars 56 and the bar segments 62 areheld in the drum slots and notches by a plurality of axially extendingchannel members 70 which are radially aligned with the slots 50. Themembers 70, in turn, are attached to axially spaced clamps 72 mounted onthe bolts 74 which are secured to and extend radially outwardlyfrom thedrum 12. A plurality of spacers 76 are welded to the inner surface ofthe members 70 and are axially spaced. The spacers 76 engage the outersurface of the drum l2 spacing the channel members 70 from the drum topermit drainage from the drain holes 500 and 50d. Note from FIG. 3 thatthe channel members 70 extend throughout the effective length of thedrain holes 500 and 50d and terminate adjacent the plates 68, where thedrain holes are blocked by the segments 62a. The members 70 prevent thinmetal parts such as washers from slipping through the slots 50c and 50dand out of the drum. Suitable clamps 78 on the inlet end 42 of the drumsupport the bars 56 and the rods 58 in that area.

Summarizing the operation of the washer, cleaning liquid pumped throughthe pipe 300 which extends through the inlet end 42 of the washer druml2 floods the left end or flood section l2a of the washer 12 asindicated by the level of the water 66. At the same time water is pumpedthrough the pipe 30b and the nozzles 36 in the central wash section 12bof the washer. MOst of this water 80 quickly drains away through thedrain holes 500 and 50d. The right-hand section 120 or downstreamsection of the Washer 12 does not receive any spray liquid butadditional drainage occurs in this area.

The parts to be washed, such as machined nuts and bolts, are fed intothe frusto-conical inlet member 46 where they are directed into theinlet 42 of the washer 12. The parts are moved and tumbled by theconveyor 40 and lift bars 56 through the washer to the outlet 44 and theoutlet member 48. During this operation, the rods 58 are continuallyoscillated by the movement of the plates 68 caused by gravity as thedrum rotates. The plates 68 are shown in the various positions theyassume as the drum is rotated. Note that the movement of the plates islimited by the adjacent edges of the slots 50 and the bars 56. Thisoscillation prevents clogging of the slots by the material washed fromthe parts by producing a continual agitation or loosening of anycollecting sediment.

Another advantage of the arrangement described is that in the event thedrainage holes should become clogged in spite of the continual agitationis that the apparatus can be easily cleaned by simply removing theclamps and lifting the bars and the rods out as combined units thusleaving the slots 50 completely exposed for cleaning purposes. In thissame manner worn lift bars 56 and agitator rods 58 can be replaced asnecessary.

The liquid draining from the drum 12 returns to the reservoir 22 wherethe solids settle to the bottom and the lighter oily materials float tothe top. The intake for the pump 28 is located midway between the topand the bottom of the liquid, where the cleaner liquid should be.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for washing quantities of small parts comprising:

a container for receiving the parts;

means for introducing liquid into the container for cleaning the parts;

means defining a plurality of drain holes in the container to allow thedirty cleaning liquid to drain from the container; and

agitator means other than said liquid movable within said drain holesfor preventing the clogging of the holes by material cleaned from theparts. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is acylindrical drum mounted for rotation, the drain holes are slots whichextend parallel to the axis of the container, and the agitator meansincludes a rod positioned in each slot, the diameter of the rod beingless than the width of the slot, and including means for oscillating therod as the drum is rotated.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the agitator means further includesa weight attached to each rod and extending outside of the drum whichcauses the rod to be moved by gravity as the drum rotates.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 including a lift bar positioned in each slotand extending radially into the drum, the remaining space in the slotbeing slightly greater than the diameter of the rod in the slot, axiallyspaced barsegments attached to the lift bar radially inwardly of the rodto support the rod.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including means attached to the exterior ofthe drum for supporting the bars and rods comprising axially extendingmembers aligned with the slots, spacers attached to the members ataxially spaced intervals for spacing the members a small distance fromthe exterior of the drum to permit drainage from the slots, and clampsfor attaching the bars to the drum.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is mounted to becyclically moved during the washing operation and movement of thecontainer causes movement of the agitator means within the drain holes.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the agitator means includes anelement positioned in a drain hole with a weight eccentrically attachedthereto which causes the element to be oscillated by gravity as thecontainer rotates. A

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is a cylindrical drummounted for rotation, and including means positioned on the wall of thecontainer for tumbling the parts as the container is rotated 9. Theapparatus of claim 8 wherein said tumbling means comprises a series ofcircumferentially spaced lift bars which extend inwardly from the sidewall of the drum.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is a cylindrical drummounted for rotation with an inlet on one end and an outlet on the otherend, and including means for moving the parts from the inlet to theoutlet as the drum rotates and the parts are being washed.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for moving the parts isa spiral conveyor attached to the inner wall of the drum.

12. In a rotary washer having a cylindrical drum with an inlet near oneend and an outlet near the other end, a spiral conveyor attached to theinner side wall of the container for moving small parts through thecontainer from the inlet to the outlet as the container is rotated, aplurality of drain holes formed in the wall of'the con tainer forallowing cleaning liquid applied to the parts to drain from thecontainer, the improvement comprismg:

movable agitator means associated with the drain holes for preventingclogging of the holes with material cleaned from the parts, said drainholes comprising a series of axially extending slots which are spacedcircumferentially around the drum, the agitator means includes a seriesof rods positioned in the slots, the spiral conveyor being formed withnotches in its outer periphery aligned with the drain slots; a lift barpositioned in each slot and extending radially into the drum and thenotches in the spiral conveyor, the remaining space in the slot beingslightly greater than the diameter of the rod in the slot so as topermit drainage; and axially spaced bar segments attached to the liftbar radially inwardly of the rod to support the rod, said rod segmentshaving considerable length around one axial section of the drum, thuscompletely blocking the drain slots and forming a section within thedrum which will contain the cleaning liquid for flooding the parts beingwashed.

13. The washer of claim 12 wherein the agitator means includes a weightattached to each rod which extends outwardly from the drum exterior, theweights being attached to the rods in the flood section of the drum.

1. Apparatus for washing quantities of small parts comprising: acontainer for receiving the parts; means for introducing liquid into thecontainer for cleaning the parts; means defining a plurality of drainholes in the container to allow the dirty cleaning liquid to drain fromthe container; and agitator means other than said liquid movable withinsaid drain holes for preventing the clogging of the holes by materialcleaned from the parts.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thecontainer is a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation, the drain holesare slots which extend parallel to the axis of the container, and theagitator means includes a rod positioned in each slot, the diameter ofthe rod being less than the width of the slot, and including means foroscillating the rod as the drum is rotated.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2wherein the agitator means further includes a weight attached to eachrod and extending outside of the drum which causes the rod to be movedby gravity as the drum rotates.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 including alift bar positioned in each slot and extending radially into the drum,the remaining space in the slot being slightly greater than the diameterof the rod in the slot, axially spaced bar segments attached to the liftbar radially inwardly of the rod to support the rod.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 4 including means attached to the exterior of the drum forsupporting the bars and rods comprising axially extending membersaligned with the slots, spacers attached to the members at axiallyspaced intervals for spacing the members a small distance from theexterior of the drum to permit drainage from the slots, and clamps forattaching the bars to the drum.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thecontainer is mounted to be cyclically moved during the washing operationand movement of the container causes movement of the agitator meanswithin the drain holes.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the agitatormeans includes an element positioned in a drain hole with a weighteccentrically attached thereto which causes the element to be oscillatedby gravity as the container rotates.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe container is a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation, and includingmeans positioned on the wall of the container for tumbling the parts asthe container is rotated.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein saidtumbling means comprises a series of circumferentially spaced lift barswhich extend inwardly from the side wall of the drum.
 10. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein the container is a cylindrical drum mounted forrotation with an inlet on one end and an outlet on the other end, andincluding means for moving the parts from the inlet to the outlet as thedrum rotates and the parts are being washed.
 11. The apparatus of claim10 wherein the means for moving the parts is a spiral conveyor attachedto the inner wall of the drum.
 12. In a rotary washer having acylindrical drum with an inlet near one end and an outlet near the otherend, a spiral conveyor attached to the inner side wall of the containerfor moving small parts through the container from the inlet to theoutlet as the container is rotated, a plurality of drain holes formed inthe wall of the container for allowing cleaning liquid applied to theparts to drain from the container, the improvement comprising: movableagitator means associated with the drain holes for preventing cloggingof the holes with material cleaned from the parts, said drain holescOmprising a series of axially extending slots which are spacedcircumferentially around the drum, the agitator means includes a seriesof rods positioned in the slots, the spiral conveyor being formed withnotches in its outer periphery aligned with the drain slots; a lift barpositioned in each slot and extending radially into the drum and thenotches in the spiral conveyor, the remaining space in the slot beingslightly greater than the diameter of the rod in the slot so as topermit drainage; and axially spaced bar segments attached to the liftbar radially inwardly of the rod to support the rod, said rod segmentshaving considerable length around one axial section of the drum, thuscompletely blocking the drain slots and forming a section within thedrum which will contain the cleaning liquid for flooding the parts beingwashed.
 13. The washer of claim 12 wherein the agitator means includes aweight attached to each rod which extends outwardly from the drumexterior, the weights being attached to the rods in the flood section ofthe drum.